Gravity Training Ball Having a Buffer Function

ABSTRACT

A gravity training ball includes a ball core unit having a predetermined weight specification, a buffer unit covering the ball core unit and made of a material having a shock absorbing effect, and an outer cover unit covering said buffer unit. The outer cover unit includes an outer cover layer covering the buffer unit.

FIELD

The disclosure relates to sports and fitness equipment, moreparticularly to a gravity training ball having a buffer function.

BACKGROUND

Referring to FIG. 1, an existing gravity training device is mainly madeof rubber mixed with powdered minerals and then molded into a hollowball shape. The gravity training device has an inner surface 2 definingan inner space 1, and an outer surface 3 opposite to the inner surface2. By changing a wall thickness between the inner and outer surfaces 2,3 of the gravity training device, the purpose of adjusting the weightthereof according to different users or different exercisingrequirements can be achieved.

Referring to FIG. 2, another existing gravity training device includesan inner membrane 5 covering a counterweight filling unit 4, and anouter membrane 6 covering the inner membrane 5. The counterweightfilling unit 4 may be waste materials, such as gravel and waste tiregranules. The outer membrane 6 may be formed by sewing or molding. Bychanging the proportion of the gravel and the waste tire granules, thepurpose of adjusting the weight thereof according to different users ordifferent exercising requirements can be achieved.

Although each of the aforesaid gravity training devices can achieve itsintended purpose, when the user performs self-training, such as holding,lifting, reversing, or throwing, he/she may be easily injured becausethe gravity training device itself has a considerable weight.

SUMMARY

Therefore, an object of the present disclosure is to provide a gravitytraining ball that has a buffer function and that is safe to use.

According to this disclosure, a gravity training ball includes a ballcore unit having a predetermined weight specification, a buffer unitcovering the ball core unit and made of a material having a shockabsorbing effect, and an outer cover unit covering the buffer unit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the disclosure will become apparent inthe following detailed description of the embodiments with reference tothe accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of an existing gravity training device;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of another existing gravity training device;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a gravity training ball according to thefirst embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a gravity training ball according to thesecond embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a gravity training ball according to thethird embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5, but illustrating an alternative formof a ball core unit of the third embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a gravity training ball according to thefourth embodiment of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a gravity training ball according to thefifth embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Before the present disclosure is described in greater detail withreference to the accompanying embodiment, it should be noted herein thatlike elements are denoted by the same reference numerals throughout thedisclosure.

Referring to FIG. 3, a gravity training ball 500 according to the firstembodiment of the present disclosure includes a ball core unit 10, abuffer unit 20, and an outer cover unit 30.

The ball core unit 10 can be made into a predetermined weightspecification according to the use requirement, and includes an innerbladder 11 defining a receiving space 111, an inner wrapped yarn layer12 covering the inner bladder 11, and a filler 133 received in thereceiving space 111 and serving as a counterweight. The inner bladder 11is made of synthetic rubber, and has an inflation valve 112 forinflation of air into the receiving space 111. The inner wrapped yarnlayer 12 is formed by wrapping yarns around the inner bladder 11. Thefiller 133 is powdered minerals (including gravel and sands), wasterubber powder or a combination thereof, and is filled into the receivingspace 111 through the inflation valve 112.

The buffer unit 20 fully covers the ball core unit 10, and is made of amaterial having a shock absorbing effect. The material of the bufferunit 20 is selected from one of sponge, ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA),ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM), rubber foam, silicone, or acombination thereof.

The outer cover unit 30 includes an outer wrapped yarn layer 31 and anouter cover layer 32. The outer wrapped yarn layer 31 is formed bywrapping yarns around the buffer unit 20. The outer cover layer 32covers the outer wrapped yarn layer 31. The forming method of the outercover layer 32 of this embodiment is performed by heating in a formingmold (not shown). That is, after the ball core unit 10, the buffer unit20 and the outer cover unit 30 are assembled and placed in the formingmold, air is inflated into the receiving space 111 through the inflationvalve 112, so that the inner bladder 11 can produce an expanding effecton the outer cover layer 32 and an outer surface of the outer coverlayer 32 can be shaped according to the shape and pattern of the moldcavity of the forming mold.

The gravity training ball 500 further has a through hole 40 extendingfrom the outer cover layer 32 to the inflation valve 112.

In this embodiment, the receiving space 111 may be filled with fillers133 of different weight specifications according to different gravitytraining requirements. When a user performs self-training, such asholding, lifting, reversing, or throwing using the gravity training ball500, he/she may be prevented from injury because of the presence of thebuffer unit 20, which can generate a buffering effect. Further, throughthe provision of the inner wrapped yarn layer 12 and the outer wrappedyarn layer 31, the structure of the gravity training ball 500 can bestrengthened. Moreover, because the outer cover layer 32 is moldableinto a predetermined pattern appearance, it has a strengthening andwear-resistant function.

It is worth to mention herein that the inner wrapped yarn layer 12 orthe outer wrapped yarn layer 31 may be omitted for other trainingpurposes.

Referring to FIG. 4, the second embodiment of the gravity training ball500′ of this disclosure is shown to be generally identical to the firstembodiment. However, in this embodiment, the ball core unit 10′ ispreformed into a solid ball shape using a mixture of powdered mineralsand foaming material, and serves as a counterweight. The ball core unit10′ can be made with different weight specifications according todifferent gravity training requirements. The buffer unit 20′ fullycovers the ball core unit 10′, but may partially cover the ball coreunit 10′ in other embodiment. The outer cover unit 30′ further includesan inner cover layer 33 made of rubber and directly formed on andcovering the buffer unit 20′. The inner cover layer 33 has an inflationvalve 331. The outer wrapped yarn layer 31′ is formed around the innercover layer 33.

By inflating air into a space between the buffer unit 20′ and the innercover layer 33 through the inflation valve 331, the inner cover layer 33is expanded to have a fixed ball shape, and the outer cover layer 32′ isalso expanded so that the outer surface thereof can also be shapedaccording to the shape and pattern of the mold cavity of the formingmold. The through hole 40′ of this embodiment extends from the outercover layer 32′ to the inflation valve 331.

It is worth to mention herein that the outer wrapped yarn layer 31′ maybe omitted for other training purposes. In this embodiment, the ballcore unit 10′ is made into a solid ball shape. Alternatively, the ballcore unit 10′ may be made to include a counterweight main body having ahollow ball shape and defining an interior space, and a filler filled inthe interior space. The counter-weight main body may include twohalf-ball bodies mated to each other.

By varying the weight of the ball core unit 10′ according to therequirement of the user, the purpose of adjusting the gravity trainingusing the gravity training ball 500′ can be achieved. The advantages ofthe first embodiment can be similarly achieved using the secondembodiment.

Referring to FIG. 5, the third embodiment of the gravity training ball500″ of this disclosure is shown to be generally identical to the firstembodiment. However, in this embodiment, the ball core unit 10″ furtherincludes a counterweight 13 made of rubber and disposed between thebuffer unit 20″ and the inner bladder 11″. The buffer unit 20″ partiallycovers the ball core unit 10″, and includes a plurality of buffer pieces21. The buffer pieces 21 may not be interconnected, or may be connectedto each other through a plurality of bridge portions (not shown). Theouter cover unit 30″ further includes an inner cover layer 33 coveringthe buffer unit 20″ and having an inflation valve 331. The outer wrappedyarn layer 31″ is formed around the inner cover layer 33. The throughhole 40″ extends from the outer cover layer 32″ to the inflation valve331.

During making of the gravity training ball 500″, air is first inflatedinto the receiving space 111 through the inflation valve 112, afterwhich the counterweight 13 covers the inner bladder 11″, so that throughthe expansion of the inner bladder 11″, the shape of the counterweight13 may be fixed. Next, by inflating air into a space between the bufferunit 20″ and the inner cover layer 33 through the inflation valve 331,the outer cover layer 32″ is expanded, and the outer surface of theouter cover layer 32″ can be shaped according to the shape and patternof the mold cavity of the forming mold.

It is worth to mention herein that the outer wrapped yarn layer 31″ maybe omitted for other training purposes.

In an alternative embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the ball core unit 10″further includes an inner wrapped yarn layer 12″ disposed between theinner bladder 11″ and the counterweight 13.

In another alternative embodiment that is not shown, the counterweight13 may include a counterweight main body having a hollow ball shape anddefining an interior space, and a filler filled in the interior space.The counterweight main body may cover the inner bladder, and the fillermay be disposed between the counterweight main body and the innerbladder. The counterweight main body may include two half-ball bodiesmated to each other.

By varying the thickness of the counterweight 13 according to therequirement of the user, the purpose of adjusting the gravity trainingusing the gravity training ball 500″ can be achieved. The advantages ofthe first embodiment can be similarly achieved using the thirdembodiment.

Referring to FIG. 7, the fourth embodiment of the gravity training ball(500 a) of this disclosure includes a ball core unit 100, a buffer unit200, and an outer cover unit 300.

The ball core unit 100 includes an inner bladder 110 having an inflationvalve 112, an inner wrapped yarn layer 120 covering the inner bladder110, and a counterweight 130 covered by the inner bladder 110. Thecounterweight 130 includes a counterweight main body 132 having a hollowball shape and defining an interior space 131, and a filler 133 filledin the interior space 131. The counterweight main body 132 includes twohalf-ball bodies 132′ mated to each other. It is worth to mention hereinthat the inner wrapped yarn layer 120 may be omitted.

In this embodiment, the buffer unit 200 partially covers the ball coreunit 100, and includes a plurality of buffer pieces 210. The bufferpieces 210 may not be interconnected, or may be connected to each otherthrough a plurality of bridge portions (not shown).

The outer cover unit 300 only includes the outer cover layer 320 havingsa concave-convex three-dimensional shape matching that of the bufferunit 200, and covers the buffer unit 200.

The gravity training ball (500 a) further has a through hole 400extending from the outer cover layer 320 to the inflation valve 112.

By varying the weight of the counterweight 130 according to therequirement of the user, the purpose of adjusting the gravity trainingusing the gravity training ball (500 a) can be achieved. The advantagesof the first embodiment can be similarly achieved using the fourthembodiment.

Referring to FIG. 8, the fifth embodiment of the gravity training ball(500 b) of this disclosure is shown to be generally identical to thefirst embodiment. Particularly, the gravity training ball (500 b)includes a ball core unit 100′, a buffer unit 200′ covering the ballcore unit 100′, and an outer cover unit 300′ covering the buffer unit200′. However, in this embodiment, the ball core unit 100′ includes aninner bladder 110′ defining a receiving space 111, a counterweight 130′covering the inner bladder 110′, and a filler 133 received in thereceiving space 111. The inner bladder 110′ has an inflation valve 112for inflation of air into the receiving space 111. The filler 133 ispowdered minerals (including gravel and sands), waste rubber powder or acombination thereof. The filler 133 is filled into the receiving space111 through the inflation valve 112.

The gravity training ball (500 b) further has a through hole 400′extending from the outer cover layer 320′ to the inflation valve 112′.

The buffer unit 200′ fully covers the ball core unit 100′.Alternatively, the buffer unit 200′ may partially cover the ball coreunit 100′, and the outer cover unit 300′ may have a concave-convexthree-dimensional shape matching that of the buffer unit 200′.

By varying the weight of the counterweight 130′ or the filler 133according to the requirement of the user, the purpose of adjusting thegravity training using the gravity training ball (500 b) can beachieved. The advantages of the aforesaid embodiment can be similarlyachieved using the fifth embodiment.

It should be noted herein that although the drawing of the gravitytraining ball (500, 500′, 500″, 500 a, 500 b) in each of the embodimentsof this disclosure is presented in ball shape, the gravity training ball(500, 500′, 500″, 500 a, 500 b) of this disclosure may be made into acylindrical shape, a triangular shape or other irregular shapes, and isnot limited thereto.

While the disclosure has been described in connection with what areconsidered the exemplary embodiments, it is understood that thisdisclosure is not limited to the disclosed embodiments but is intendedto cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope ofthe broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modificationsand equivalent arrangements.

What is claimed is:
 1. A gravity training ball comprising: a ball coreunit having a predetermined weight specification; a buffer unit coveringsaid ball core unit and made of a material having a shock absorbingeffect; and an outer cover unit covering said buffer unit.
 2. Thegravity training ball as claimed in claim 1, wherein said ball core unitincludes an inner bladder defining a receiving space and having aninflation valve for inflation of air into said receiving space.
 3. Thegravity training ball as claimed in claim 2, wherein said ball core unitfurther includes a filler received in said receiving space.
 4. Thegravity training ball as claimed in claim 2, wherein said ball core unitfurther includes an inner wrapped yarn layer disposed between said innerbladder and said buffer unit.
 5. The gravity training ball as claimed inclaim 2, wherein said ball core unit further includes a counterweightdisposed between said buffer unit and said inner bladder.
 6. The gravitytraining ball as claimed in claim 5, wherein said ball core unit furtherincludes an inner wrapped yarn layer disposed between said inner bladderand said counterweight.
 7. The gravity training ball as claimed in claim1, wherein said outer cover unit includes an outer cover layer coveringsaid buffer unit.
 8. The gravity training ball as claimed in claim 7,wherein said outer cover unit further includes an outer wrapped yarnlayer disposed between said outer cover layer and said buffer unit. 9.The gravity training ball as claimed in claim 8, wherein said outercover unit further includes an inner cover layer disposed between saidouter wrapped yarn layer and said buffer unit, said inner cover layerhaving an inflation valve.
 10. The gravity training ball as claimed inclaim 9, further comprising a through hole extending from said outercover layer to said inflation valve of said inner cover layer.
 11. Thegravity training ball as claimed in claim 3, wherein said filler ispowdered minerals, waste rubber powder or a combination thereof, and isfilled into said receiving space through said inflation valve of saidinner bladder.
 12. The gravity training ball as claimed in claim 1,wherein said ball core unit is preformed into a solid ball shape using amixture of powdered minerals and foaming material.
 13. The gravitytraining ball as claimed in claim 1, wherein said ball core unitincludes a counterweight, and an inner bladder covering saidcounterweight, said counterweight including a counterweight main bodyhaving a hollow ball shape and defining an interior space, and a fillerreceived in said interior space.
 14. The gravity training ball asclaimed in claim 13, wherein said counterweight main body includes twohalf-ball bodies mated to each other.
 15. The gravity training ball asclaimed in claim 7, wherein said buffer unit includes a plurality ofbuffer pieces.
 16. The gravity training ball as claimed in claim 15,wherein said buffer unit partially covers said ball core unit, saidbuffer pieces are not interconnected, and said outer cover layer has aconcave-convex three-dimensional shape matching that of said bufferunit.
 17. The gravity training ball as claimed in claim 2, wherein saidbuffer unit fully covers said ball core unit.
 18. The gravity trainingball as claimed in claim 17, wherein said outer cover unit includes anouter cover layer covering said buffer unit, said gravity training ballfurther comprising a through hole extending from said outer cover layerto said inflation valve of said inner bladder.
 19. The gravity trainingball as claimed in claim 1, wherein said material of said buffer unit isselected from one of sponge, ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), ethylenepropylene diene monomer (EPDM), rubber foam, silicone and a combinationthereof.